Hamlet Quotes Act 1-3

A little more than kin and less than kind (I.ii,64) Hamlet to himself (aside) Hamlet believes that Claudius is a little more than kin for he is now his step-father, not an uncle. But “less than kind” because Hamlet is bitter that he remarried his mother so hastily. Overall, he disapproves Claudius’ actions.
Seems, madam! Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” (I.ii,76). Hamlet to queen: Hamlet lashes out at his mother when she asks him why he should still be so upset when everyone else has come to terms with the death of his father. He tells her that he does not “seem” sad, he IS sad.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! (I.ii.133-134) Hamlet to himself Just after he talks to Gertrude and Claudius. He is saying his life is pointless and wishes suicide was an option (wishes suicide wasn’t against religion).
Frailty, thy name is woman! (I.ii.146) Hamlet to himself Hamlet is describing women as weak creatures after watching his mother. (She was so in love with his dad and few months later after his death, she’s deeply in love with his uncle.)
Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables (I.ii.179-180) Hamlet to Horatio talking about how quickly his dad’s funeral transitioned to his mom and uncle’s marriage. He is being witty and sarcastic. (dark humor)
Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for a loan oft loses both itself and friend and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. (I.iii,75-80) Polonius to Laertes in one of his advices before he leaves to go to Paris. Polonius says not to borrow any money for you lose your manhood. And most importantly advice to Laertes to just be himself for that way, people can see you in your truest sense and will accept you.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark Marcellus to Horatio After the ghost’s reappearance; Marcellus’s reply to Horatio’s question “what does this [the ghost] mean?” Marcellus thinks that the constant appearance of ghost is a bad omen to the state of Denmark, sensing that something terrible will happen.
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder Ghost to Hamlet when revealing the truth about the murder. Demanding/ asking Hamlet to take revenge on his uncle.
My uncle! Aye, that incestuous, that adulterate beast (Ghost to Hamlet) The two’s conversation about King Claudius, who murdered his brother to become the King. Ghost Hamlet curses the villainous and immoral act of Claudius.
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heave And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prick and sting her. Ghost to Hamlet During the two’s conversation; the ghost is telling Hamlet to don’t harm his mother → “leave her to God and her own guilt”
The time is out of joint. Oh, cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right! Hamlet to ghost After hearing the truth from the ghost, Hamlet declares to set back justice by avenging his father’s death. Hamlet curses the day that he was born because now he has a burden/responsibility to accomplish something that he is not confident about.
What majesty should be what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, were nothing but to waste night, day, and time Polonius to queen (tell them hamlet is mad in love for ophelia) Polonius is about to tell Gertrude what he thinks is the cause of Hamlet’s madness, and he tells her that he will be very brief about it. But his line is ironic, because even though he talks on and on about how he will be quick about his report, he rambles and fluffs on and on about his explanations.
Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. Polonius to hamlet (aside) Polonius, although convinced that Hamlet is truly mad after hearing him ramble on and on, recognizes some method to his madness. Polonius is quite surprised by that.
Why, then ’tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. Hamlet to rosencrantz When Rosencrantz disagrees with Hamlet that Denmark is prison, Hamlet replies that Denmark is not a prison to Rosencrantz for nothing is good nor bad truly. → wishes he didn’t know what he knew
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How finite in faculty!….. no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so. hamlet to rosencrantz Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, following the king and queen’s instructions, pay a visit to their friend to observe his behavior. Hamlet, however, correctly suspects their true intentions: to spy on him and report back to his uncle and mother. It reflects Hamlet’s wariness regarding this visit by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and the suspicions surrounding his acceptance of his visitors. very sarcastic in nature. Hamlet mocks how people think so highly of themselves
The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King. Hamlet to himself Hamlet, by organizing “Murder of Gonzago,” plans to scrutinize Claudius during the play and watch if his demeanor changes.
Madness in great ones must not unwatched go. Claudius to Polonius He believes that insanity, especially in high-officials, should not be unnoticed; therefore, he will not ignore Hamlet’s queer behavior and is determined to find a solution.
Suit the action to the word, the word to action, with this special observance, that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature. Hamlet to the players Hamlet is advising to the Players to let the words fit the action and action fit the words(script). Also, he advises them to act naturally, not overdo such acting that can lead to unnaturalness.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Gertrude to hamlet When Hamlet asks Gertrude if she likes the play, she answers that the Player Queen is talks in an unrestrained manner. → Gertrude says that Player Queen affirms so much as to lose credibility. Her vows are too elaborate, too artful, too insistent. More cynically, the queen may also imply that such vows are silly in the first place, and thus may indirectly defend her own remarriage.
O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound. Didst perceive? Hamlet to Horatio Hamlet is saying to Horatio that he will bet thousand pound that the ghost was correct. He is excitedly asking if Horatio had seen Claudius’ reaction after the play.
O heart, lose not thy nature, let not ever The sound of Nero enter this firm bosom. Let me be cruel, not unnatural I will speak daggers to her, but use none. Hamlet to himself Hamlet will speak cold to Gertrude in her room but would not kill/harm her because of what his father(ghost) had told him to do. He would only harm her mentally with his menacing words.
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to Heaven go. King Claudius to himself Even though Claudius prayed and confessed to God and the angels, he is still burdened with guilt and nothing has changed. He still enjoys all the things he got through the murder of his brother, thus he cannot truly repent.
Oh, shame! Where is thy blush Hamlet to queen Hamlet is telling Gertrude why she isn’t blushing- meaning why is she not ashamed of herself for marrying a such a lowly man.
O Hamlet, speak no more. thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul, and there i see such blank and grained spots as will not leave their tinct. Queen to hamlet Gertrude is pleading to Hamlet to stop talking for his words are piercing into her soul, making her reflect back upon her dark, immoral actions.
I must be cruel only to be kind Hamlet to queen Hamlet believes that fate has put him in the position of the man who has to clean up the corrupt Danish court, but in order to do so, he must take some unpleasant measures. He is warning his mother that Polonius is not the only one who will be killed. He is preparing her for his intended killing of Claudius; the bad beginning is the murder of Polonius and the worse that remains behind is the killing of Claudius. But, he explains, although killing people may seem “cruel”, in the end it is for the best, so in the long run killing Polonius and Claudius will be “kind” for Denmark.” —> basically, he’s justifying his behaviors by saying although revenge to Claudius may seem cruel, in the long run, he’s doing the right thing.
August 21, 2019